Ep. 52: Run, Roast, Repeat: Alan Ortega's Road to Chicago

SPEAKER_02 0:00

I'm ready for those people. You know, they're they they they they they they're proud that we're that we're running and it's like hey I wish I can do that, you know, but I can't. And it's like so I'm running for the people that those people close to me that can't. For you know, for everybody that looks at my content, you know, some of my friends is like, hey, I've always wanted to run, uh, but I don't know where to start. And you know, I've I've had some of those conversations as well with people. It's like, hey, you know, start with 10 minutes, put your shoes on, go for a quick run, just just around your your neighborhood, you know, and you gotta start somewhere. So it that's that's the the beauty of of the sport is that yes, we do pay for to run. Yes, we do pay to be in pain, and we put ourselves through weeks and weeks of of pain, but we do it because of the outcome. Like what we learn from it is better than not doing it.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Welcome back to Through Their Stride. I'm your host, Sam Sutton, and today I'm joined by Houston-based runner Alan Ortega. Alan started running back in 2017 as a way to connect with his girlfriend at the time, who loved the sport. She's now his wife, by the way. And while he had fun, he didn't race again until 2020 when he picked it back up to help keep him active and get him out of the house. He began to get faster, and in 2023, he set his sights on a time of sub 140 in the half. In 2025, he just missed it by a few seconds. But instead of signing up for another half, he decided to go all in at the Chicago Marathon in 2026, where he will be raising money for a Chicago-based nonprofit organization called Bandwidth. In this episode, Alan details how the training has been going, why he loves creating content and sharing his story online, his passion for coffee making, and why the charity means so much to him. I'm so excited for you to hear this one. So without further ado, let's get to Alan. All right, well, welcome back to Through Their Stride. And today I am joined by Houston-based runner Alan Ortega. And Alan, I know we've been trying to get this going for like two weeks now. So I I apologize for back and forth, but we're here now. So here we go.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

Yeah, we're here now, and I I think part of the delay was actually on my on my part. We were just talking about this before joining. Uh we were uh I've been sick all week. So uh I I had to delay it because uh a week ago we were trying to do this last week and I couldn't even talk. I couldn't give couldn't even get out of bed. So I mean we're we're here now. Uh still a little bit right here, congestion, but you know, we're we're we're getting through it. So thank you for having me though.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And yeah, I it was a little bit for your sickness, a little bit for my sickness, and then uh I had a busy schedule too with work and with um my uh I had a situation where my mom uh so my mom passed away in January and they did a uh uh bicycle ride in her honor during the hotter in hell hunter, yeah, and wished all falls. So it was uh super cool, yeah. Cool to see, but yeah, definitely put put put us off for a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 3:05

So yeah, yeah. How was that by the way? A lot of people, good turnout?

SPEAKER_01 3:10

It was good. Uh yeah, it was um I would say the turnout was not as good as some years. I think some years they have a lot of people. Um, I think um last year it was better than this year, but it was still a good year. And um a lot of my mom's friends had come and uh and rode like varying distances. My stepdad rode the 25 miler, and then a lot of my her friends rode like the 100k up to the 100 miler. So uh it was a big day. It was um good. Um they all made little like ribs for her, and so they had her face on it and everything.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

So that was super cool. That was very special, man. That's cool that that you you're using your mom's legacy, and from what I've heard on your podcast is that you know she was a runner too, and and and and now you're following those footsteps, which is just incredible. Yeah, so really cool.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah, and I I think it's fun because um especially like with this podcast, I I get to not only like share my own story, but like lift a lot of runners up, which has been probably my favorite part of you know, this whole journey is like hearing other runners' stories and kind of selfishly taking a little bit of like tidbits from their journeys as well and help helping advance my running. So this is this has been great.

SPEAKER_02 4:27

Yeah, and that's actually yeah. I was gonna say, yeah, that's actually how we how I we met and how we got into this podcast was through videos and Instagram and social media, and we kind of you know started following each other and then I learned about the podcast. So it's actually an honor to be here now as a as a guest. Uh but yeah, thank you so much for for the invitation again.

SPEAKER_01 4:48

No problem. It's my honor having you on. And and Alan, we'll I guess we'll go ahead and talk about your kind of running journey from where it started. So uh you had DM'd me and said it's you started around 2017 with your wife. So can you talk a little bit about your running journey? And are you from Houston originally?

SPEAKER_02 5:05

So um born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Uh so the other side of the state. Yeah. Yeah. You can throw a rock to Mexico and you can throw another rock to New Mexico. So like right at the tip. Um but yes, I've been here since 2009 in Houston now. Wow, it's almost uh almost 20 years coming up. Um I know, yeah. I some basically my whole adult life I've been here. I came for school and uh that was in 2009. I just stayed here and I just been I I fell in love with the city, with the culture, with the food, um just everything about Houston. Just uh the running scene is also great, but I didn't learn about all that until later in life. You know, from 2009, my first uh half marathon was with my wife in Seattle, Washington, and that was in 2017. We did the the rock and roll. It's a it's a race in June, and it was it was really cool to run. It was 45 degrees starting the race in June, and which is great, which is great, yeah. Uh leaving the the Houston heat for that, it was just awesome. Um, and but I got into running uh through my wife. She was a runner before I ever w even thought about doing it. Uh, and then uh her and my brother-in-law uh started running around the same time. So they kind of he's been doing it for a long time, and um, and my wife as well. So she ran from 2015 approximately to like 2021, and then she passed on the botanomy, and then after she kind of stopped running uh as a as a sport and more just like for fun, then that's when I picked it up. Um, and it's and it's been my it's gonna be my seventh half in a row basically from 2020 onward, uh, including the um the Houston that I already signed up for, the half marathon. Uh, and that's it's one of my favorite races. That's why I keep doing it, is because uh the half is just the whole from mile one to mile 13 is just full of energy. There's music, there's people, there's like, I mean, just everybody just cheering you on. So I love the half distance for Houston. And I will actually be running my first full marathon in Chicago in four weeks, actually. So super excited for that. Uh it it's taking me this long to get to the marathon, but only because I I I I respect the distance and and I never and I knew that in signing up for the full, it was gonna require so much more time, so much more uh dedication, commitment. And and I think I was not ready for that until now. So um, you know, I've been running for I seven halves already, uh or six, yeah, six, set, six, seven halves already, and and no, and no fools. And people are like, when are you gonna do a fool? When are you gonna do a fool? It's like I can I can just do it. I know I can. Like, you know, if you can do a half, you know, the fool's just two of those. But but it I know that when I do that, it it I'm not just gonna like, you know, ease my way into it and just say, uh, let's see what happens. Uh I I like to go all in with everything that I do. So that's the reason why I've been postponing it until now. It's like I wanted to make sure I was ready. Uh I was gonna do it the right way. I was not gonna be, you know, uh lack of better term, to just half-assing through it. So I wanted to make sure that uh when I do it, we're gonna do it. So so here we are. Yeah. So that's kind of my starting journey with running. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

Yeah. Well, definitely. And I think what you like what like what you said, like you want to be, you want to know that you're ready. I had uh like you said when we were off the uh uh recording, you heard Jeff Cunningham on, and Jeff Cunningham said on a podcast one time, uh, you know, like he always tells his athletes because his athlete is like, Oh, I'm just not sure if I'm ready yet. Do you think I'm ready? And he's like, Well, yeah, you're ready now. He's like, you're if you can run a mile, you're ready now. Like, how ready can we get you from now to like 16 weeks from now? Right. And that's kind of how it is. Like, you know, like like you said, you you've run half marathons, you run six, seven half marathons, but like, um, you know, and you're so technically you could probably go out tomorrow and run a full, but it's like you want to get anybody can to that full. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 9:26

Yeah, yeah. I just know that I I want to give in my all because if I'm taking time away, let's just say I can go right now and run 26 miles, I'm gonna be hurting tomorrow, probably worse than if I actually threat for it and take my time. And but also with all these trainings that I'm doing is uh and workouts and and leaving home and not spending time at home. Uh, it's like I I I don't just want to, you know, I want to make sure that it was worth it, you know, that that I went out and that all the times that I was not spending time with with with the wife, with friends, with family, that that it was worth it. Um so that that that's just me, just something I I I believe on, I believe in is like I'm I'm gonna give it my all and and prove myself that I can do it, and also just make sure that I make everybody else proud along the way. Uh so yeah, that's yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

And especially if you're going to Chicago, like that's a world major, so you don't want to spend all that money and like go all the way out there just to like bonk and my you know what I mean? And then just be like, oh dang it.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

Like that 100%. So uh the this whole journey, I I didn't know how expensive it was gonna be. So uh it might be, I mean, unless I'm you know, someone's paying me to do it, uh, I I'm not sure if I'll do that again. But again, it it it's the the whole process has been just really fun though. Uh from from like uh raising money, and I'll talk about the charity soon. Um because that's how I got into the marathon. Um, but just from raising money to talking to people about it, making videos and all the content, uh, just of of the progress of, you know, hey, you know, week two, this is what I learned. And then, you know, you can go through my Instagram, see all the videos, uh, and and this is what we're doing, and blah, blah, blah. And it's I think it was really cool to just see the the evolution of the running process and you know, going, having the threshold runs and have going to the track on Mondays, and that it kind of became like a religious thing now. And I was like, Well, I'll be back. Where oh, where are you going? Oh, going on the track, you know, it's Monday. So yeah, it just and and tracking and put posting everything and just people writing me. And I've met so many people from all over the place, and you're one of them. Uh uh, you know, you're you're in Fredericksburg, and uh, I've I've met people from like other cities because we're just like, you know, they're also on the same build, and it's like, hey, how how are you feeling about it? And I'm nervous and blah, blah, blah. Like somebody um saw a video the other day, and you know, sh hashtag Chicago Marathon, and uh, because I'll click on it and say, Oh, what is this person up to? And and part of that is like me. I I want to see if other people are also feeling the same things I am. And and the this person, uh this person in Dubai that's coming all the way from there to Chicago, first marathon as well. I was like, hey, that's a pretty cool story, you know. Like, so I was like, Hey, how are you feeling? Uh oh, a little nervous, oh me too. And you know, so just sharing the the same experience uh, you know, makes us human, you know, because we're all nervous, especially our first one. Uh, but at the same time, it's like, hey, it's our first one. Let's just go out there, have fun. And yeah, so we're we don't have to be too nervous, we're not out there trying to PR because it's our first one. So uh, but I do have a goal in mind, but that's you know, I'm trying to try not to think about it too much.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

Well, yeah, yeah. And I think um that's the best thing about your first marathon is like you you never get to run your first marathon again. Like it's it's right, and I'm always jealous when I hear about people like training for their first, because I'm like, man, like I remember my first, like it's it's it's such a good feeling when you cross that finish line. And I'm anybody talking a little bit more. Um so far, hold on, let me think about that. Um one, two, because I did two in 2023, which is my first year, and then I did Dallas in 2024, and then Utah in 2025, and then so I've done five because I did uh Austin again in uh 2026. Um I'll do my six in November.

SPEAKER_02 13:30

So oh my, that's a lot of run. And good for you, man.

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, it's it's you know, it's it's it's a lot of work, and it's been uh it's been fun to kind of learn a little bit more each along the way. I think you know, my first marathon, I didn't treat uh I did not respect the distance. I was like, I'm just gonna go out there, you know, run, see what I can do, see how I can train. And I didn't use gels in any of my long runs. No, I didn't like I barely I ran like twice a week every week, and I was just like, well, we'll see how see how it goes. And I ended up running like six hours and 50 minutes because I didn't didn't take any fuel with me, only used core hydration, which was like it was it was noon. Do you know the noon electrolyte tablets? Like that's yeah that's all they had at the running station at the aid stations, and I never could find the water, so it was just like like noon electrolytes for 26 miles.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

No, oh yeah, that is terrible. Um I'm definitely yeah, bae, but it you now you're learning, and I'm sure you got better each time. I I hope you're still not running those for six hours. That's that's insane. I'm I'm I'm actually trying actually the reason why I'm also like just really trying to to train and I hired I hired a running coach for my first one is because I want to spend the less the least amount of time running. Like I don't want to go out and run for more than four hours. Like that's just me. Um because I've because I've done all these halves, like I like the hour hour 40, you know. That's that's my that's my personal best is an hour 40. So I like to run as fast as possible and get it, get it out of the way or be done with it. Um and but I just can't imagine running for more than four hours. Like that's just insane to me. So again, that's why I'm like, I need a higher running coach. And I I think uh one of the positives of me getting into running, I guess, a little bit later is like just the amount of information that's out there. Um you know, so there's you know, hydration, how to feel, uh, how to how to feel properly days before, how to start carbloating, recovery, sleep, and and now there's so many gels and so many companies out there giving you, you know, incredible products. Uh so I mean, yeah, like everybody should be running, you know, a lot more efficient now because we have so many so much technology running is so so popular as well that there's you know, there's so much there's information overload everywhere. So um, but yeah, that's that's uh for my first one I'm trying to run uh and I'll say it here, uh 330, first one. Uh and it's very possible. Yeah, it's very possible. Um, you know, that when I hired my coach, that was the first thing that he one of the first things he asked me is like, what are you what are you trying to go for? I'm like, well, it's my first one, uh, but I've also ran all these halves, and then what's your halftime? I gave him you know 140. He's like, Okay, yeah, 330 is is very doable. And I said, Okay, you know, and we'll we'll use whatever what half marathon fitness I have because I was coming out of that. This this was like in March. Uh, and and he said, Yeah, we'll we'll use that, and then we just we'll start. So then we did uh uh we're doing a 20-week um prep, uh 20 20-week uh training block, and and we got four weeks left. And and I skipped this whole week because I'm sick, as you may hear me sniffling right now. Um still still getting out of it, but uh, hope tomorrow I'm gonna it's gonna be my first run back, and we're just gonna be doing an easy eight-mile run just to kind of get the legs going again. Um but yeah, uh just super thankful to my friend uh Brock Cali. He's uh uh running person that everybody a lot of people know. He's he was uh he's working right now with um he's he's working with Mu Balance. The last thing I heard he was working with Cadence, the supplement company. So there's uh a lot of people that he's working with, but he also has his own brand. Uh and his brand is called Over Everything. And yeah, so just the the the base of it is just to be in intentional about everything that you do and over everything. So uh I've been having a blast uh him training me, but also just super thankful that he said yes, because he he doesn't coach, he doesn't promote that he coaches, he uh just did it because we've we've been uh buddies for a couple years now. And um when I asked him, I was like, oh, what's the worst thing he can say? He's gonna say no, or he might say yes, we'll see. Um uh but yeah, he said yes. And uh and he's been doing more most of his collegiate running, he did uh short distance. And but he's getting into the marathon scene, and uh, I think for his for his first one, he qualified for Boston. His second one, uh, he did 231, I believe. So really fast guy, incredible athlete, um and and super honored and and happy that he said yes. When I when I asked him to coach me, I'm like, hey, it's my first one, I just need some guidance, and and he said yes. So um, but yeah, we got four weeks left, and he he he thinks I can do 330, so we're gonna go for it.

SPEAKER_01 18:51

Awesome. And yeah, I mean what if you're if 140 is your PR for the half, I think 330 is definitely within your in your wheelhouse. But um yeah, but before we get more into the into the Chicago marathon, so when you were doing your half marathons, what what then when did you kind of feel like, oh man, like this is for me? Like running is for me. I love this thing, I love this sport, I love chasing these times. When did it kind of click in your head for you?

SPEAKER_02 19:16

So I I'll I'll go back to 2017. That was my first one. Uh I I did it just to go out and so my wife wouldn't want to buy by herself, but I only had maybe I had maybe maybe two months to train. Like it was like nothing. Like it was like she was like, You want to run with me? I was like, sure. I signed up like literally maybe five weeks before. We did it, we suffered through it. It was it was really tough because Seattle's really hilly. And so uh I didn't run for three years after that. Like if I go back to my stats, uh I probably ran, I don't know, maybe under a hundred miles for each year until I started getting serious about it. Uh so it I was just not really wanting to do that. Like I just hated running. Just, you know, who wants to go outside when it's really hot and who wants to sweat uncontrollably, and who wants, you know, and running is painful, but it's you know, you learn to love the pain. And it and it's funny to hear, and and if somebody's hearing the podcast and they're like, these guys are crazy. It's like, why why would you why would you start enjoying pain? It's like, you know, it's I it it's it's something that you you learn to love, you know. Uh and I think for me was um it it so I started right after COVID, basically, and I I think it became a thing that I needed uh for just mental clarity just to have my own time. Uh, you know, as also as life got busier, I I really learned to enjoy running because it was like my alone time. Um I could just go out and run and no, you know, not have turning my phone off and not have anybody bug me. And it's just sort of like the only time I have to be to myself. Uh and for that reason, I I enjoy running alone a lot. I I I love running early mornings before before everybody's up, or or even like late in the evening, you know, as people are winding down, there's not many cars on the road anymore. And I like just kind of feeling that solitude and that quietness of the world. Uh, and that's where I do a lot of my thinking. That's where I do a lot of my planning for my my business, just for life, or what I have to do for, you know, certain things. And I'm as I'm running, I'm like thinking about, oh, I have to like, or I'll be like using Siri to like text my wife, hey, we should do this, or they should try that, or hey, I just have to start about this, like, you know, whatever. So sort of like having a conversation with with people as I'm running because I'm thinking about it. I don't want to forget about it. So I'll I'll do those things as I'm running, just kind of planning and stuff. And but I I I I think it it was a natural progression how I got into it. And I think part of it was because. just life was getting busy. So I'm like, I I I need to find something that I enjoy. And I I and I still enjoy going, you know, on walks. I enjoy uh going to the gym and even like lift weights, which I haven't had much time to do during this block because that that means that I have to do a two-a-day, you know, run in the morning, go work out in in the in the evening. But um but yeah when I wasn't running as much I was going to the gym. I I was playing tennis, another one of my favorite sports uh or joining leagues, you know, so I was doing other things. I've always been a very active person. But uh yeah just the running aspect is a it's also a challenge a personal challenge. Uh it all started with like you know running my first half which was 2021 after taking like a four year break. And it was like oh okay like I I like the energy of the of the half marathon this is cool. And then maybe I'll do better next year. And then I would have to wait a whole year because I I this is like my first race that I don't do uh in January in Houston. You know I'm traveling somewhere so I'm doing it at a different time. So I haven't really done summer training like this time around. Uh but now I was like okay uh maybe I can do better than last year. So then 2022 I shaved I don't know five minutes something like that. I was like oh okay I'm getting better I'm getting faster so it starts becoming this you you almost get hooked to to to do better and to prove yourself that you can do better. And then 2023 uh I think that was the year that I uh that I hit hit a wall um and basically ran the same time and I was like so I didn't I didn't improve in a whole year. So I was kind of bumped with myself and I was like I'm gonna do better next year. And I think that's when it clicked after 2023 when I took it way more seriously uh because of had that those two years back to back that had the same time. And I was like I I definitely can do better. Like I was kind of like bumbling myself. I you know how everybody gets a free shirt uh when you go yeah you know they ask for your size and everybody gets a shirt you get taken home and it's got like the year and half marathon and really cool. Well I didn't get one that year that's how bummed I was so I I walked out I'm they're like do you want a shirt I'm like you know yeah you know like when you're walking out they got they that's when you get your shirt they're like do you want your shirt I'm like no I don't want my shirt I was so bummed um oh man so that's the only year that I don't have a shirt from because again I was but I wasn't bummed about like with with people I was bummed with myself you know I'm like hey I I failed uh and then I came back 2024 and I had a really good uh PR and I I believe at that time it was 144 and then 2025. And then and then this last one it was uh um yeah one and then 140 and I was shy about 20 seconds of sub 140. So it was about 140 23. So uh 23 seconds away is just from from getting that sub you know 139 um which is still one of my goals and I think well that's gonna be my goal this year is coming out of this Chicago build and and and marathon build uh it's you know I'm just gonna have maybe three more months before the half and it's just gonna it's gonna feel more of a piece of cake because I'm I'm used to running 13 miles on a on a weekly basis. So it's like you know the the half marathon is going to shrink and it's gonna feel a lot smaller and and the and the 139 goal is going to be definitely achievable because of all the hard work I've been doing all year. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:44

Dude I'm impressed because like um having a 140 and like going to chase your first marathon and you're coming in with a with a lot of star power um and like 330 with a with a 140 three for 330 is definitely in your wheelhouse. Yeah yeah but yeah I agree like um every time every time I do a marathon I always try to go afterwards go for the shorter distances distances like a half or like a 5k because I'm like you've you've built all of this endurance and like then you can just go down to like building that that sharpness and uh I did so back in so my PR right now in the marathon and this is kind of weird my PR in the marathon is 350 which is from um uh Utah last July and but two months prior to that was it two months or three or four months I uh I ran a 138 half marathon so like my half marathon times don't even like match up with my marathon times so it's kind of a weird yeah it's kind of a weird like thing for me like I'm a way better shorter distance runner than I am a marathon runner but you know the marathon is the popular one so but it's fun to chase but yeah I'm definitely a faster short shorter runner than I am a full runner full full marathon runner.

SPEAKER_02 27:04

Well that makes you feel better no knowing that when you do a shorter distance after a a longer distance then you're you're gonna do better. So that that makes me feel better yeah uh that means that I I could potentially even go you know shave more than a minute uh because you know my goal was just to PR and the half but now it's like having this marathon block I might actually go like shave five minutes. I mean who knows um it was pretty crazy though and and and it it it was something that I wanted to or I guess when I was reaching out to my coach and it kind of when I started the I wanted to sign up for the full in January because they were the there were the entries were selling out already they were like you know hey we have 500 left or whatever and so I I messaged him and I was like hey do you think I can do a a full marathon uh you know back to back and and he's he was like straight up he's like I I don't think so like and I'm glad that he just straight up told me you know he knows my age he knows my my fitness and and you know he knows that I have other things going on in life other than just running. I'm not a runner full time this is not my job. So he's like you know what no I I don't recommend it. You know you you you can get injured you know something can happen and he he was just like you know what let's just just do one just do this one focus on this one and and do the half in January and I think you'll be great and I think it was it's a great idea. Yeah like I I was I was you know getting all excited about the the full training I'm like oh I think I can do two back to back you know with a three month in between and then he was like no don't do it so I'm glad he you know he he used his knowledge and and told me not to and convinced me to get joined the half because now I feel like after this it it's gonna I'll be able to do other things as well maybe run less. Right now I'm running five six times a week basically every day uh and and and doing the half I can probably maybe just do three runs but also include some weightlifting and some cross training in there uh and and maybe instead of doing longer runs just do a lot more speed runs threshold uh to to get me faster for the for the half so that's sort of that's the goal but I I'm I'm already like waiting counting the weeks because I I am excited about Chicago but it's also been just you know it's it's a 20-week process it's it's a long time yeah so uh and I'm I have been enjoying the process but I also I'm I'm ready for the break as well you know I I feel like we we all feel that way at some point I mean you tell me how how did you feel I guess um I mean in your training yeah I was I was gonna say your training in the uh in the Houston heat too like the heat and humidity in Houston is so brutal I I ran um I've run like a couple of times not not in Houston but the Corpus Christi area and uh I mean like that humidity is is not no joke.

SPEAKER_01 30:06

So like I the taper can't I'm sure the taper can't come freaking up ready.

SPEAKER_02 30:12

Yeah yeah we're we're so close to the to the ocean to to the gulf that it just there's so much humidity uh it's it's pretty insane how like just go walking outside you start sweating uh and I'm just there's some days that I just I just don't want to go through that process and and and I don't want to go through like that sweating that much and so I'm just like I'm gonna go run inside. And so I've actually learned to love the treadmill so much because you know what's my other option is running outside in 100 degrees. So then when I'm running inside in a treadmill I I actually like really appreciate it you know I'm like I'm in I'm in the controlled air conditioner I have my water right there if I need to reach for it. I you know I don't have to carry anything I just have everything there and and it's it's just been great. When I do the my my my runs in indoor I they just feel like a blessing honestly uh but I am excited to be running Chicago the average uh in the past 10 years the average uh temperature to for starting time uh race is like 55 degrees so you know you had they've had some colder ones and then they've had some also warmer ones but that's the average sound like even if it's just 55 that's better than a hundred degrees you know so I I am looking forward to that for sure.

SPEAKER_01 31:34

Yeah awesome and um I gotta I do have to give you some kudos too for hiring a coach and especially Brock Kelly because Brock Kelly is like he's first off like he like you said he's like that very he's very deliberate about everything that he does. He it's you know he wants to he wants to do a good job. He's very genuine yes and uh and he knows a lot about writing because he did it in college and high school and yes and so like I didn't get a coach until probably like three marathons later and just hiring a coach makes a night and day difference in your training. So yeah I I gotta give you kudos to that but um but my next question is so um so what uh I'll just jump to this real quick but like what I've really appreciated about you is a lot of the content that you've uh been posting around your runs and like it's really cool just to kind of see the the storytelling and the the way you do it it's very artsy which I think is super cool. But when did you start doing that and and how did that kind of come uh come come about because I think it's like I I love your content. I love your videos.

SPEAKER_02 32:37

Thank you thank you. Yeah um so I my my wife is like the creative one she she has an eye for things and and everything she does uh she starts with creativity and she always looks at everything with creativity and and that's um you know it's her idea to start the videos and start the the the telling the story about the you know the running journey and because it is my first marathon and so it was like let's tell a story of how it really is. So a lot of the videos is like um the the the first one which was like oh week one you know it's it's easy running and I'm like doing all these things then it's it's fun and games you know for the first one and it's like okay week two what did you learn about your for your first week so then um the week two it was like some photos that she took and then I just wrote on top of each slide and it was like okay I learned this I learned that and we were trying to make it just really artsy and uh as everything progressed and then like you know life started getting in the way too like there's we have a video of when our dog was sick uh which he is better now um but he he uh after a whole month process basically the whole month of August he uh they they couldn't figure out what's wrong with him and it was like a simple thing he he had a a bug uh or uh a a warm so it was like and the vets could not figure it out so we're like just basically like waking up in the middle of the night he was like throwing up and he was yeah like he was going inside our house and we had to take him outside and like all times you know one in the morning three in the morning five in the morning so it it was really messing up with my sleep and and so for that whole month the whole month of August it was really tough just having a sick dog at home and uh so we did a video about it so it was like just um you know um each slide was like a video clip and you know you can kind of see him walking around running around and and it was we would just wanted to tell a story of like how how real it is you know because when you're training you still have other things to do other responsibilities we all have a job we all have to do this and that but then he's like to take care of a of a sick family member at the same time was like oh man like um we so we've just been basically posting as think as as things happen we're just you know so I'm pretty sure there's gonna be an episode of me getting sick yeah or uh something about it. I haven't really posted about it yet uh and and and no one's asked me hey yeah I haven't seen you you know posting about running but it it's just been um yeah uh as you can see I'm still sick so I'm like trying to just get through this sinus uh that I have right now um but but yeah it's when we post is we just love to tell a story how it is and and using her creative creativity it's it's awesome. Uh uses uh you know we've used old camcorders you know that she has you know that when he flip the screen from like the 80s you know we have you know she has a film camera we have digital so we're using like everything that we can just to make it look a certain way um you know because we we love to post things that look good and and that are for Instagram so uh that's what we yeah when when we post something we it we always are intentional about it even if it's just hey let me post this let me put a story about how my run was I I like to do that as well when I'm running and I I see a really cool building or a really cool cloud or a really nice shadow of a building I take a picture of that and just put my run over it you know so um I think that's just the the type of people we are you know so but but she's definitely the creative one from both of us. I I don't think I think if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have pushed it too much you know I think I would have just started the process and wouldn't be really telling a story. But she's the one that definitely pushes me like hey make sure you that you're you take your track pot wherever you go okay sure I'll take it. And then hey make sure that on this run you take a you do a video of something or record your shoes or record this record something. And so I I've been trying and it's like you know something else you have to keep in mind when you go run it's like okay I have to make sure that I bring this and that and that I'm that I'm thinking about how can I tell a story as I'm running and and it's all to the end goal of it is just to whoever sees it to motivate people and to know that they can actually run as well even if it's not running but hey you can do something that you enjoy go outside you know go for a go for a walk or go play whatever sport you enjoy. But it's just more of that whoever sees the videos we want them to see hey you know this guy if this guy can run and he can and he does this this this and that then I can do it too. So that's that's the uh the purpose of why we're posting all these videos is we want somebody to see it and say hey I can do that too.

SPEAKER_01 37:38

Yeah. I love that and I think uh kudos to your wife because it's I mean it's really good work and really really good videography. Yeah and I think you know for people like us uh like we're normal runners you know we're not professionals we're not getting paychecks for this this is not our day job 100% and so we are having to mix like running with with our eight to five nine to five and like yes yes you know you are a business owner too so that's like a whole a whole like big thing in and of itself you had to take care of a sick dog and you're a business owner and you're trying to run like tons of miles a week. So um how do you juggle all that and also I wanted to ask a little bit about your uh your coffee shop so uh how long have you had that and uh and how's it been juggling being a business owner and a runner?

SPEAKER_02 38:25

Yeah yeah uh me web minus first uh yeah so um we started uh Fermata Coffee Roasters uh in 2023 it started as a as a passion project uh I've loved coffee for a while now and just um wanted to do something with it and I naturally progressed into a a business not not really planning on it it just sort of happened yeah so uh and it is a coffee roasting business it's not we don't have a cafe a coffee shop in itself I think we had a coffee shop it I would be extremely busy uh but uh so right now the the the roasting is uh allowing me to still have a full-time job which I have uh you know a nine to five job and um and then juggling the the roasting which right now it's only maybe taking about approximately five to eight hours a week so I can do that on I I have a I have a roasting day and then I have like a shipment and fulfillment day and then I do some deliveries here to local coffee shops. And so so it doesn't take much of my time but I'm able to do my full-time job as well. And so that's the reason why it's I haven't really I guess uh progressed to do something different with coffee. I think I'm enjoying where we are right now and and with the amount of time that I I can dedicate to it. So yeah so for now it's and then and that's how I'm also able to run. I think if I if our business was bigger I I probably would not have time to run. So that's another reason why I said hey this is a good year for me to do the marathon is is because I I can't I can't imagine having a full-time job with a a bigger business that requires more time and still trade for a marathon. Like I I think you know right now is just a perfect time to do the marathon and to say hey I I did this I can check this and and we'll see when the next run I do when the next marathon is uh but I but I right now I kind of have you know all these blocks like okay Monday I have to do this and then to go to work and then I have to run. Tuesday I'm not gonna run but I'm gonna roast the coffee for the week. And then Wednesday I do this and then I run. And so it's it's just the way that you set your schedule and is we have you have to be extra intentional. Otherwise you will not survive and you will leave everything halfway so uh and I feel like everything that we're that I'm currently doing right now just is is perfectly and I'm still able to to um do my best in in at my job my my money through Friday job and but also in uh with formata and also with running and and trying to be present at home and trying to be present with family and friends. It does feel like I hit capacity like I cannot do anything else and I do have to say no to a lot of things. But uh this with currently how I have my schedule is working out uh and and and the the coffee business it is great. It is it's all about how you balance everything. And I think that's the key for everybody that and I think most people that listen to your to your podcast and most people out there are are not paid professional athletes. So this is what you have to do. You know a lot of the people that that are runners are are parents for example uh so they have to find time when the kids go to sleep. And and for me the Fermon at coffee roasters the our business feels like a child that I have to take care of and there's times that I have to run before or after I roast I've actually I've actually taken my running shoes before and and I roasted and then I put everything in the car all the coffee and everything and it's like okay I'm gonna go for a run. Like it well like and literally I just finished roasting but I have to go for a run and then I'll go run, come back and then I'll go home. So it's like just I'm basically my running shoes live in my car. Like I have two pairs of shoes in my car. Yeah I have a pair of shoes at home is like I you basically have to take them anywhere you have to make time. So um for us non-paid athletes this is what we have to do is just find time and and balance life. And that's something that I've that I've really learned to do with um on top of having everything else. So yeah uh but but to answer your question yeah the the coffee business it's great uh we we sell to uh local coffee shops here uh I ship out coffee to other cities as well and um you know to businesses but also to individuals you know they're direct to consumer uh people that buy coffee and we send it directly to their house and uh we also have two bars here in Houston that buy our coffee and they use it for their coffee cocktails. So uh it's good to see our coffee you know expanding in different places too so you know we sell to churches but then we also sell to coffee shops and we also sell to bars, you know, so it's all over the place, you know, because coffee is that drink that we can't live without so it's uh yeah it's it's fun having having that coffee business and how it started and how it relates to running and as a business owner is is very hand in hand uh because I feel like when you are an entrepreneur you you know that's how I compare running to it is like you have to be Intentional. You have to be consistent with showing up for your business. You can't just let it just stay there. Um, so there's a lot of things that I've learned and a lot of similarities with coffee and running. And that's one of the things is like when you're running a business, uh, is you have to be uh you can't give up, you know. There you're not always gonna feel like doing it, but you have to show up. The same thing with running. You're not always gonna feel like running, but you have to do it. You have to the hardest thing is just putting your shoes on, just like the hardest thing is, you know, packing the car, go roast, bring everything back on a day when it's like really hot, and then you know, the the machine gets pretty hot, so then you it makes it even hotter. So just imagine like being in a even in a hot environment all all the time is you know, it can get tiring. So I don't want I don't always want to do that, but but we do it, we get it done. And the same thing with running. So that's that's why I think running has taught me so much. Is like if you compare running to business, you know, you can't give up, you gotta keep going, you gotta persevere, you gotta be consistent, and you gotta show up. Is the same thing with life too. So in life, you know, there's things that happen. It's like uh you have to keep your head up. Hey, let's let's keep going, let's keep fighting, let's not give up, you know. So uh there's a lot of similarities in running, and I think that's why I I fell in love with the sport, is because you're always running in pain. You're you're always, you know, it's tiring, something always hurts. And but the the beauty of it is that when you finish a run, you feel so good, and you're like, oh man, I just I just did 15 miles. How? You know, yeah, before I could only run one and now I'm running 13, I'm running 15, you know, and soon I'm gonna be running 26. Like this is crazy. Like, um, but it's it's just part of the process, and it's it's just this feeling you get when you finish a run, is that you feel like you accomplished it. So it that's why I think uh running is it became something a part of my life for the past, I would say, three years where I took it actually seriously. And I before that I was just like, oh yeah, let me go for fun. Uh, but now it's like okay, now I need now I need running. I can go a day without it or I can go a week without it. It it turns into like you needing it to be able to survive because you use it for different reasons just to go out and have a good workout, you know, you feel good when you sweat, yeah. But also for me is more of a mental thing as well. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:37

Awesome. Yeah, I was gonna say, like, do you find that you've kind of been like fallen in love with the schedule? Because like and the routine of like you know, having to get out the door in between uh like in between, you know, making coffee and distribu distributing and you know, uh has it kind of become like a habitual thing for you? And then also uh what have you kind of learned about yourself in the process of this of this training plan?

SPEAKER_02 47:01

Yeah, I it it definitely becomes habitual. Um it becomes a part of who you are, especially after this is already week 16. Uh you know, they say when you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit or something like that. Um so just imagine doing something for that long. And not only that, is like I started running since I basically haven't stopped all year. I'm almost at, I think I'm at 800, 900 miles now for the year. So I've just been keep going, keep going, keep going. So it does become um a part of you that when you don't do it, you you need it, uh, in a good way. You know, I I I always chuck around. It's like if I didn't have running and I was telling just a friend the other day, I was like, you know, hey, uh running is good because it it it may it makes me focus on running and makes me focus on I have to run tomorrow. So then you prep the day before for your run. So then guess what? If you want to go out and have a drink on a Friday night, it's like, hey, no, I have a Saturday morning run, so I'm not gonna do that. So it was somebody that wants to like get into that routine and and make running a priority. So it's like I I think running is a perfect way to straighten straighten you up is because there's a discipline to it. So I was telling somebody the other day, it's like, hey, if if you want your life to be more habitual and and and have more discipline, running will teach you that because you know, you have to prep the day before to for your run. You can't, if you wanted to have a couple drinks uh, you know, the night before, you can't because you have to think about your run tomorrow. So, you know, it's it's a good habit to have for sure. And it and it's maybe one of the best things you can do. And if I didn't have it, I would probably, you know, I I love eating out. I love having a good drink here and there. So it's like if if I didn't do that, I would probably, you know, I'll not be in a good not feeling good physically right now, I feel great. Besides, you know, this but sickness, but I would be um probably eating like, you know, trash, food, and I would be not taking care of myself the proper way, not hydrating enough. And I feel with with this block and just having a goal in mind that it's that is ahead of you, you you have to eat better, you have to sleep, you have to take care of yourself. So running has given me that discipline to do that. So that's something that I've learned really is through this this whole year, because it was the most it's the most miles I've ever ran this year. And I think uh it's just having that discipline and and and and that's something that I've that that it's taught me this year compared to like other years in the past. When I would do the when the only thing I had was the half marathon, you know, and and we were like four or five months away, I wouldn't really get serious until like the month before. You know, I would still be eating bad. I would still be, you know, sleeping late and and and or lacking sleep, and I would just wake up the next day and go for, you know, a 10-mile run or whatever, because that's what you do for the half. You don't have to do, you don't have to get too strict about it, I feel like. Um, but something that this year it taught me was like, hey, you everything you do has a consequence. Every like you feel it on your run. And there's times that I am running and I made a bad a bad decision. Like I went to Whataburger the the night before or something, and it's like I feel it the next day. I was like, I shouldn't have done this, you know, I should have I shouldn't have ate something else, maybe some pasta or carbuff for this, but you know, I decided to have that bad meal last night. So guess what? I'm paying the price right now. So um yeah. Yeah. So that's something that I've learned just with running, is is is staying consistent and then disciplined. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:54

Yeah. I'll say uh I yeah, I definitely like if you if you try like I last night I went to go watch the Texas Ohio State game at a brewery here in town. And uh I I drank like you know, a few beers at the game, and I was like, Yeah, I got my long word in the morning, I'll be fine, it's gonna be fine. Yeah. And oh man, this entire like entire morning, it was a supper fast, like stomach was sour, like just like dry heaving for like several miles. And I was like, it's the beer. I did it to myself.

SPEAKER_02 51:26

100%, 100%, yeah, yeah. So so yeah, and and um next weekend uh we have uh I'm going to a bachelor party. One of my friends is is getting married soon. So uh I'm already like, you know, that's Friday night. I have to run Saturday. So I was thinking about it earlier, and I'm like, you know what? I I can't have I can't have any, you know, because I again there's four weeks left before the marathon. I have to really lock in. So uh she doesn't know yet, but I'm I'm not gonna drink, I'm not gonna drink next week. Um just go with the NA beers. Boom. Yeah, I was actually, hey, I mean every bar now has NA's, so uh, we're actually gonna go to the Astros game. So uh they definitely have NA beers there, or I'll look for one. Yeah, so um I yeah, definitely cannot do anything uh for the next four weeks. Like this is the time to lock in. I this is it. But yeah, I feel your pain, man. I've I've made bad decisions before going. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:33

Well, awesome. And and then I wanted to ask you a little bit. So you had mentioned earlier about Chicago kind of being an important race that you chose, and that you're raising money for charity. So um, why is this race so important to you and what are you raising money for?

SPEAKER_02 52:47

Yeah, so um running um raising money for it's called Bandwidth Chicago. And uh it's a it's an organization that helps um under deserved kids that you know that they they help them provide uh music lessons, um, drumline, dance. So it's basically like an art uh organization, and they and they give it uh they provide it for kids and teenagers that are in like uh undeserved um communities. So um I I fell in love with that story uh because um that that's how I got into music. And I feel so close to that charity, and so you know, it it hits home because uh I I wasn't you know a kid that needed or I wasn't poor or anything. We we lived, you know, a perfect middle class life growing up. You know, my parents gave me what what I needed and what I asked for, and you know, but uh it the way the way that I that I got into music, because I'm also a musician, uh I don't think we mentioned that in the in the podcast yet. Uh I'm a drummer myself, and and that's and that's uh what I came to Houston for for music. And um, but uh somebody gifted me and somebody gifted me an instrument when uh it was becoming an interest. I was a teenager and and I wanted to get really into music. I I just you know, before asking my parents, somebody at uh at church growing up said, Hey, um I see I see that when you're at church, you know, you look you're looking at the musicians and you're looking at the band and they're like, uh, do you want to play an instrument? And I said, And you know, this I'm 13 and this guy's asking me this, and he's in the band, and he's like, Well, I have uh I have a guitar here if you want it. So then I was like, Oh, really? You're just gonna gift me this guitar? And he said, Yeah, yeah, here. Here you go. He brought it and he's like, Here, here, this is yours. So I was gifted something that I I really had uh an interest for at that time, and that helped me develop into the person who I am now. Uh I I graduated high school and I went to school for music. And so that sort of started this whole journey for me. Uh, and you know, been in uh in a recording studio before. I've tracked with different artists, I've played live music, I've played at church my whole life. I've uh basically became something that it was just so important to me because of this one person, something that they did, and they said, hey, here's this guitar, this is yours. And and and that's what what bandwidth is doing with with their students and with the these kids is like, hey, you know, I'm I'm I'm I may just be interested in an instrument, but I don't have the means for someone to teach me. Uh so that's what they do is they take in, you know, all these kids and and teenagers. Uh so I believe it's like, you know, from first grade to like you know 12. So I mean it you you have all different ages, and it's like, hey, this is something we want to give you. We want to you want to learn jazz, boom, here you go. We got the jazz teacher here, he's gonna teach you how to play. Uh so it's really cool just because uh it's that was basically that kid, but I was you know, I was gifted this instrument by somebody at church. And so when I was um I was interested in the sh in the Chicago Marathon, uh, just because it's a city that I've I've I've never been to Chicago. Uh we've never been uh as family, and uh we really wanted to I I saw that city and I was like, oh, that would be cool to do. And then uh they were, you know, I was kind of looking at the Chicago Marathon post on Instagram and they were like, hey, if you wanna, this is, you know, where you're doing the entries right now, blah, blah, blah. And this is a list of all the charities and then or all the organizations that we partner with. And I actually went to, I was just kind of scrolling. So I opened the list, I opened the email, and then it had all these lists of people. And I as I stopped at B, which is bandwidth. So I barely went through the A. And then I see the B because it had a trumpet on it, and that's a logo, it's a trumpet. And I'm like, oh, that's a me that it has to be musical, right? So I clicked on it, so I didn't even get to the other letters of the alphabet. I never got to, I never kept scrolling. I just stopped at B and I was like, oh, music, cool. This is this is nice. And then I saw their their mission statement, and this is what they do. I'm like, oh, this is pretty awesome. Like it literally felt like me being a kid again and and wanting to learn music. And I was like, this is this is it can't be, this is too perfect, you know? And so I really uh just yeah, just connected with that. Uh so then I send them an email and I said, Hey, this is Alan. Uh I'm in Houston, Texas. I'm a runner, but I'm also a musician. And you know, it's it's just I I was this kid as well, just like the kids that you guys have in your organization. You know, I grew up the same way. Somebody, you know, I told them it was a whole paragraph, a whole story. And it wasn't long. Uh I was at work when I sent that that message. And then as I'm driving home, I get a call. Like literally, like it was probably 10, 15 minutes later after I sent, I hit send, and I was like, hello? And they're like, hey, this is blah blah blah from Baton with Chicago. We just saw your your email, we read your story, and we we just we we love your your story. And they're like, we would love to have you as an athlete for us uh for the Chicago Marathon. I was like, what? What did I just do? I was like so and like and I did this like not even thinking about like I haven't even asked my wife, you know, how she feels about me doing a marathon. Like I just kind of like I just did it, and and I not knowing that it was gonna go anywhere. And then so I get home and I was like, hey, guess what? So then she's like, oh my god, like it just happened. Yeah, she's like, I was like, I guess we're going to Chicago. Yeah. I was like, okay, cool, let's do it. So um, but yeah, uh it something good came out of it because uh I've I've been in communication with uh people in Bandwidth, they're great, uh just working with all the staff and they're really friendly. Um and I love everything they're doing. And then also we we have we're making a whole trip out of it. We're gonna leave uh two days before the marriage. Well, I leave on Friday, and um we have two friends from Arizona, and then my wife's best friend and and her, they're leaving us, they're arriving on Saturday. And and uh, but we're gonna be there till you know for till Wednesday of the following week. So we're making this whole trip, uh, just like you know, our close friends are coming with us, they're joining us for this journey. So we're and none of us have been to Chicago from you know, our friends traveling from Arizona, and my wife's best friend, and and and me and her, we we have not been there, so it's gonna be like a cool just exploring time. I'll be running, we'll be exploring the city that way, and then we'll have three days after just to really take in the city, really like see everything. Uh so we're excited, just where I'm running, but also like just we're gonna be exploring. And that's that's like the beauty of signing up for a marathon in a new city is like, hey, this is gonna be a cool trip. This is gonna be a cool adventure, you know. We're uh we're all a part of. So uh super thrilled for that, man. So that's sort of how the that's how the story happened with with the the organization, uh and just feeling really blessed that I'll be running for something that that I that I really care about, uh, because it does hit home. It's and I didn't want it, I didn't want it to be something that was like, uh, you know, I don't I don't really relate to what they what they do and what they are, but this one is like every single thing just hits home. So really excited about it.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:36

Dude, that's so cool. I I yeah that's such an an an amazing story. I'm so glad. I mean, like, yeah, it's so thought it's cool, so cool that you found a charity that actually hits close to home and that hits close to your passion and and that you've already meet up with them too. I think that's like such a beautiful story. So does that kind of has that kind of given you a little bit more meaning behind this training plan?

SPEAKER_02 1:00:59

100%. 100%, yes. Uh there's uh when I don't run a run, I think about why I'm doing it and and and who I'm helping and the impact I I can have just by me getting up, putting my shoes on, and going for a run. So um, and yeah, so I I I think about a lot of people when I when I'm running, I think about you know, the people close to me, and I think about uh, you know, hey, I'm doing it for these kids that are I'm raising money for these kids uh that need music. And if if they're signing up for for the organization because they have to submit an application, they have to get accepted. But so if they are doing that is because there's an interest. So for me, is like this is cool. Like I was that kid that was interested. So I I need to run and I need to, and when I go, I we're gonna go on Friday. I'm gonna go on Friday. There's gonna be this huge party at at Bentworth. They're gonna have music, they're gonna have all the athletes there coming together and everything. So um I can't wait to talk to some of these kids and be like, hey man, you know, I was I was thinking about you when I was running, you know, and and and tomorrow they're gonna have a drum line and everything at the race too. There's gonna be, I forgot which which mile, but they're gonna be out there performing. So I'm like, dude, I I can't wait to like just run by it and just be like, hey, you know. So um, sorry, my dog's barking right there. You see somebody walking right. But uh but yeah, no worries at all. Yeah, um, yeah, just running. Uh yeah, I I think about people when I do it and uh and why and why I do it. And uh I had actually a special moment, I'll I'll I'll keep it brief. Um special moment when I was running at uh I was doing a track workout, uh threshold run at the track. It was probably 8 30. It was so it's this is a high school where I go run and the lights were off. You know, they they don't leave them on or anything, they just turn them off. So I'm still running and like and I can only see like the lights from the school. Uh and then I get a call from my grandfather. He never calls it's rare that he calls me. It's usually my grandmother. He calls me and I was like, I have to answer this. So I'm like in the middle of a uh of a repetition over here, and I'm like, I need to stop. So I answer, I'm like, hey, hey, uh, hey girl, how's it going? He's like, Why are you why are you sound like you're running out of breath? I'm like, because I'm running outside right now. And he's like, What? He's like, Yeah, I'm running. Uh and then I told him the whole story. He's like, Yeah, they didn't even know I was running the Chicago Marathon. Like, I feel like I told him, but they probably forgot. And he's like, I'm run, I'm running the Chicago Marathon. Um, he's like, What? That's cool. He's like, Yeah, and I told him, hey, he's one of the majors in in the world. He's like, oh my God. He was like, You you he sounded like I literally told him like I'm in the Olympics. Like, that's how proud he was. And and while I was telling him the story, and and uh he played baseball his whole life and he's he loves baseball. And and he was like, Hey, when you go out there, like I'm I'm so proud of you, like don't take it for granted, give it your all. Like, not everybody gets this opportunity, you know. So he was he was reminding me of of of how blessed we are to just go out there and run. And and you might think it's crazy, like somebody that's listening to this and is like, is like, these guys sound crazy. Like, how is somebody gonna pay for a race to go run 26 miles or 13 miles and and and and feel grateful about it? I'm like, dude, I'm I'm grateful because I'm doing it for the people that can run. You know, um, my father-in-law, he used to he used to be a runner and he used to run all the time too. He's like, oh, I used to run from here to here, and I would like during my lunch break, I would go run and then come back and I would do this, I would do that. And he's like, Man, I wish I could run, but my my my legs don't let me run anymore. Because, you know, he's he's in his 70s now. So so I'm running for those people, you know. They're they they they they they they're proud that we're that we're running. And it's like, hey, I wish I can do that, you know, but I can't. And it's like, so I'm running for the people that those people close to me that can't. Um for you know, for everybody that looks at my content, you know, some of my friends is like, hey, I've always wanted to run, uh, but I don't know where to start. And you know, I've I've had some of those conversations as well with people. It's like, hey, you know, start with 10 minutes, put your shoes on, go for a quick run, just just around your your neighborhood, you know, and you gotta start somewhere. So it that's that's the the beauty of of the sport is that yes, we do pay for to run. Yes, we do pay to be uh in pain, and we put ourselves through weeks and weeks of of pain, but we do it because of the outcome. Like what we learn from it i i is better than uh not doing it. So but I I've just been so grateful I for er everybody that's been in in this uh training block with me, from people writing me on Instagram. You know, from um people cheering me on and and liking it and say, Hey, you got this, like, come on, you got this, this is because a lot of people wish they could do it, but they don't, they either they can't or they just never tried. So th those are the people I'm running for. And the people that I'll keep in mind when I'm on the on those twenty-six miles is gonna be, Hey, uh, you know, I'm I'm doing it to to tell you that you can also do the same thing as me. So yeah, super super special moment there with my grandfather and and and and just with people. It's been a cool journey. Just I've been uh messaging a lot of them, they'll ask me questions. I've I've met other people through running. I've met you through through this training block. Um and we can tell a story about the I think you commented on the video when uh we were in Hunt, Texas. Yeah. We were by the Guadalupe River and I did I had a run, so I'm like, hey, uh I have to do a Saturday run, so I'll be back. And then uh my wife was actually in the forerunner, just like recording some of it. And so we kind of did this, you know, we both were recording with our phones and stuff, and it was like, oh, I'll just put something together and call it Texas Hill Country Running or something like that. And uh I think I think you thought I live there, but uh, we were just on a trip. Um and and yeah, but uh that's that's how I met you, and it's another blessing and another good thing that is coming out of this uh uh out of this um uh training block is that uh you know now I'm talking in this podcast with you about my journey and about my story. So uh and other people that I that that I've met through this, it's it's been really fun. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:41

Awesome. Yeah, I was kind of bummed whenever you said said you were from Houston, and I was like, oh dang, I thought I could like meet another fellow runner here in the area. But yeah, yeah. Um but yeah, I mean going there in two weeks. I I if I'm ever in Houston, do what?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:56

Yeah, I was gonna say, but but we'll be there in two weeks. We're we're going to um Lakey, Texas, which uh is is not far. I think he said it's about an hour or something. So uh I I will be half I'll I'll be running. So if you want to join, we can meet somewhere and go for a ride. So somewhere halfway.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:15

Yeah, dude. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

Yeah, let me know. Like uh we can meet up maybe somewhere like San Antonio or uh even in Lakey itself, because Lakey's beautiful. So uh yeah, let me know and and and I'll I'll definitely get some miles in with you.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:28

Let's do it. Yeah, that's in a couple weeks. So put out your calendar.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:33

Good deal, man. Yeah, yeah, we'll do. Well, uh Alan, I know it's been over uh over an hour now, but this has been one of my favorite conversations. I think that story you told about the about being able to run for bandwidth and and for those kids is so incredible. And just like I think it's been incredible to have someone on who like is so relatable to you know, yes, your everyday runner, people who are going through it every day, nine to five, getting off work, having to get to put the miles in, having to put the miles in at 4 a.m. before work. So um, yeah, a lot of people. This has been a real pleasure. And I gotta say too, like looking at your Instagram, like yeah, and looking at your Instagram, like um, you you do remind me a lot of Brock Kelly, like with your intentionality and like how like how beautiful your stuff is. So keep it up. And yeah, you've been definitely inspiring to me for sure.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:24

I appreciate it. Yeah, yeah. And and and and that's I I admire that from Brock since we're talking about him. Is uh I don't think I know anybody his age that is like that. Like is I I I've never met anybody. I mean, when I was his age, I I was nowhere near uh, you know, that that close to my intentions, uh, or he's just so locked in about everything. He's like, you know, I write everything down, I'm so intentional, and uh, he he makes time for, you know, so I really admire that. And I think I really connected with with his brand uh a few years ago when I when I when I saw him on I found him on a video and I was like, dang, is this guy is well first of all his content's amazing. Uh and he's uh he's big on YouTube as well. And and and I saw learned about his brand, I learned about everything he talked about. I was like, I want to be like that guy, you know? Uh so that's why we I really connected with his brand and with him as a person, and and now him as a coach, it's it's a it's a blessing just to have him on my side as well. And I think it's gonna show when when I go run because he he you know we we we text all the time, we text weekly, and we hey how are you feeling? Uh and we make adjustments as we go. So that's a good thing about having a real coach versus like uh doing a plan, you know, with using AI or using one of these apps or whatever. Uh is that you know, with those apps, you are not able to make adjustments as you go. And and having a human uh coach is like, hey, how are you feeling today? Hey, I don't feel good. Hey, let's let's do this, let's change this, and then tomorrow, let's try this. So it's been very just customizable as we go. Uh like I said earlier, he's making me run eight miles tomorrow because it's my first run in a whole week. So it's just, hey, let's get those legs moving. If I was doing Garmin, especially Garmin, it would be like, hey, tomorrow you're gonna do a 10-mile run at you know, tempo run, and because it doesn't know that I was sick, you know. So um, but yeah, that's why it's just it's just so cool to have a it's just so cool to have a human uh coach, somebody like him that just hey, go out there, go kill it, and then tell me how you feel later. And I was like, dude, it felt great, or hey, it sucked. You know, this run is was terrible. Uh, and we make adjustments from there. So yeah. Um, but yeah, thank you for for having me on and for letting me talk about uh my story and uh and who I'm running for and my thoughts. And yeah, I'm a I'm a regular guy as it gets, busy guy uh with my full-time job with the coffee business, uh uh training for this marathon and and just balancing everything. It's it's been it's been key, but it's also pushed my ceiling a lot more. It's like, hey, if I can do all this, then you can do more than that. So I've this whole year I've learned just my ceiling has just been pushed higher and higher because I've I've learned to perform in the in in a capacity of always being busy. And and everything that I do is is at 100% because of you know having that running consistency and that a discipline to run. So then that flows into everything else that I have going on in life. So super thankful for for the running community, for for the run, the running sport. It's taught me so much. Um and and yeah, thank you for having me and for listening.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:57

Definitely. And good luck in Chicago. And yeah, hit me up in a couple of weeks when you're here in in Lakey and we'll uh we'll definitely get some miles in.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:05

We'll get some miles and get some coffee afterwards for sure.